Highly miniaturized instrumentation – IC2 is developing dynamic pressure sensors arrays with sub-millimeter spacing and resolution. Designed from the ground up to be non-intrusive and compact while still delivering high performance measurements.
IC2, a pioneer in the development of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) based sensors for aerospace applications, today announced that NASA has awarded the company a SBIR Phase II follow-on contract to continue the development of miniaturized dynamic pressure sensor arrays with sub-millimeter (mm) spacing.
In this new 2 year contract, IC2 will be developing ultra-miniaturized pressure sensor arrays, using piezoelectric MEMS technology. The technology enables high resolution measurements of cross-flow transition in swept-wing, supersonic aircraft research.
The technology extends dynamic pressure sensing capability to high bandwidth, high-spatial resolution, dynamic pressure sensing via reduction in sensor size and integration of multiple sensors into a single chip array. The end result is a miniaturized, highly-compact array of dynamic pressure sensors with backside contacts to enable a truly flush-mounted, smooth interface for flow measurement applications.
We are excited to be able to continue this work for NASA, developing the smallest and most tightly packaged sensing arrays we have ever produced. High-spatial resolution pressure sensors with sub-mm spacing provide a much-needed measurement capability that does not currently exist in the market, enabling high resolution mapping of dynamic wall pressure.
These measurements are critical to the proper design of swept wing geometry for the next generation of civilian supersonic aircraft. The design and operating conditions of these aircraft expose the vehicle to cross-flow instabilities that complicate the prediction and control of laminar flow and transition to turbulence. Accurate measurement of these instability modes is not currently possible with existing technologies due to limited spatial resolution and sensor spacing constraints. Our technology surmounts these constraints, enabling the required sensor spacing and resolution.
The work will be carried out in conjunction with RTI International and the University of Florida.
